Dual purpose shower head assembly



Jan. 30, 1962 E. GENTRY DUAL PURPOSE sEowEE HEAD ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 27, 1961 M E a 3,018,969 DUAL PURPOSE SHOWER I-mAl) ASSEMBLY Leonard E. Gentry, 1515 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles 41, Calif. Filed Feb. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 91,935 6 Claims. (Cl. 239-312) The present invention relates to shower heads for shower baths, and it relates more particularly to an improved dual purpose shower head which may be adjust ably set to provide a usual clear water shower or to provide a scented and/or bubble bath type of shower.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved shower head assembly which may be easily and conveniently installed on an existing water pressure outlet to provide a dual purpose, as noted above.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improved shower head assembly which, -by means of a simple adjustment, is capable of providing either a clear water shower or a scented or bubble bath type of shower.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improved shower head assembly which is constructed to receive a replaceable, disposable perforated cartridge of bubble bath powder or other bath crystals, and which cartridge may be easily inserted into the assembly and easily changed for replacement purposes.

The improved shower head assembly of the invention, in the embodiment to be described, is actually two coaxially positioned shower heads in one, with a diverter valve incorporated into the unit. As will be described, when the diverter valve is set to an open position, Water iiows from the inlet at the top of the assembly and down through the diverter valve to provide a regular clear water shower.

However, when the diverter valve is set to a closed position, the water is forced by the diverter valve up through a perforated cartridge of scented, or bubble, bath crystals in the cartridge for a scented and/or bubble bath type of shower.

The features of the invention which are believed to be new are set forth in the claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE l is a side view, partly in section, and illustrating one embodiment of the dual purpose shower head of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a View, substantially on the line 2-2 of FIGURE l, and showing details of the housing of a diverter valve which is included in the embodiment of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side perspective view of the diverter valve;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view, substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE l, illustrating the configuration of a removable lower disc-shaped bottom member of the shower head of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view, substantially on the line 5--5 of FIGURE 4, and showing the means whereby the bottom member of FIGURE 4 may be removably mounted on the housing of the assembly; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side View of the diverter valve illustrating schematically the manner in which water passes through the central head for one angular position thereof.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the embodiment of the invention to be described herein includes a housing lil. The illustrated housing has a substantially cylindrical conliguration, and it may be composed of metal or a suitable plastic. The upper end of the cylindrical housing l0 is closed, and it contains a central aired States Patent "ice aperture which defines an inlet y12 for receiving water under pressure. A suitable ball and socket coupling 14 is mounted in the inlet 12, and the ball and socket coupling 14 permits the assembly to be coupled to a correspending water pipe. The coupling 14 has an upper female threaded portion 16 which is adapted to be threaded to the water pipe in accordance with standard and usual practice.

The assembly also includes a disc-shaped apertured bottom member 18 which is preferably knurled, as best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The bottom member 18 is removably supported on the lower end of the housing 18 by means, for example, of suitable internal threads on the member 18 and external threads on the lower end of the housing 10. These threads may be interrupted in accordance with known practice so that the bottom member 18 may be easily and quickly removed and replaced, merely by rotating it slightly.

The bottom member 18 includes a first set of orifices 24 which are positioned in a circular path, as best shown in FIGURE 4. A gasket 26 is mounted on the inner surface of the apertured bottom member 18, and this gasket engages the lower rim of the housing 10 when the removable member 18 is in position so as to form a fluidtight joint between the housing 10 and the removable bottom member 18.

A ring-shaped supporting bracket 30 is mounted on the upper surface of the apertured bottom member 18, and this ring-shaped bracket serves to support a perforated cartridge 32 in the housing 10. The top of the housing 10 includes a reentrant portion 34 surrounding the inlet 12 which also serves to support the cartridge inthe housing. The bracket 30 may be formed integral with the bottom member 18 during the injection molding, die casting, or other fabricating operation.

As best shown in FIGURE l, the perforated cartridge 32 has an annular shape. That is, the cartridge is composed of two coaxial cylinders, and the inner cylinder defines a central bypassing passage 33 through the cartridge. The space between the inner and outer cylinders of the cartridge 32 is filled, for example, with bath crystals or bubble bath salts or powder. The space between the inner and outer cylinders of the cartridge 32 has perforated end portions. The cartridge 32 may be composed, for example, of plastic or waxed cardboard.

An O-ring 35 is positioned in the supporting bracket 3G, and this O-ring serves to engage the outer lower peripheral edge of the cartridge 32. A similar 0ring 38 is positioned around the re-entrant portion 34, and this latter O-ring serves to engage the upper peripheral edge of the inner passage through the cartridge 32. In this manner, the cartridge is firmly supported between the reentrant portion 34 and the support bracket 30. A plurality of longitudinal ribs or flutes, such as the ute 39, may be formed in the housing 10 to assist in supporting the cartridge 32 firmly in a central position.

The lower disc-like removable member 18 has a central aperture formed therein, and a diverter valve 40 is mounted in that aperture. The diverter valve 40 has a serrated periphery, with a plurality of V-shaped serrations 42 formed therein. rlhe bore of the central aperture in the member 18 also has a plurality of serrations 43 formed in it. The arrangement is such that when the diverter valve 48 is turned to a rst angular position with respect to the apertured bottom member 18 by means, for, example, of a knob 44, the serrations 42 line up with the corresponding serrations 43 in the bottom member 18 to open the orifices of the central shower head. These orifices are also disposed in a circular path, and are con centric with the orices 24 of the outer head.

A diverter valve housing 60 is formed integral with the bottom member 18, and this valve housing has a truncated conical configuration. An O-ring 62 is positioned at the upper end of the diverter valve housing 60, and this O-ring engages the lower edge of the passage .formed in the `perforated cartridge 32.

Therefore, the perforated cartridge32 is supported at its lower end by the ring-shaped support bracket and by the diverter valve housing 69. The lower Support .ismadeiluid-tight by the .'Ofrings 36 and 62. As noted above, the.cartridge.32 is firmlysupported against radial .movement in thecylindrical housing y1t) by at least three longitudinal ribs or fiutes 39. Likewise, the cartridge is supported in a fiuid-tightmannerat its upper end by the .re-.entrant portion 34 and O-ring 38. The portion 34 .and upper adjacentportion-of the cartridge 32, as well .as the bracket 30 and housing 60 and lower adjacent portions of the cartridge, have v.the illustrated conical Vconfiguration to .assure tight fiuid joints. The O-rings .36, 38 and 62. may vbe dispensed with when the composition .of the cartridge itself, or of the other members has natural sealing qualities. This obtains, for example, when these members are formed of plastic such as polyethylene. The. longitudinal passageways between the ribs 39, such-as the passageway 66, are defined Vbetween the outer `Aperipheral surface of the cartridge 32 and the .inner surface of the outer Wallof .the cylindrical hous- .ing A.10.

When the diverter 40 is turned so that the serrations 42 are aligned with the corresponding serrations 43 in the bore of the central aperture in the botto-m member 18, the diverter valveet)` .is set to an open condition. This permits water under pressure iiowing through the `inlet -12 to pass down the by-passingpassage 33 in the cartridge 32, in through apertures 70 in the top of the valve housing 6i) into the Vtop of the diverter valve hous- Ving 60,-through grooves 69.(F1GURE 3) into an annular tpassage 71,.and then out through the orifices formed by the serrations 42 and the .corresponding serrations 43 in the bore of the central aperture 18 (see FIGURE 6).

Now, when the diverter yvalveif?` is turned to its closed posi-tion, the Aserrations v42 become `.misaligned with the corresponding .serrations 43 .inthe .bore of the central aperture in the member .18. rThe water under pressure vpassing down through .the apertures 70 vof the diverter valve, when the diverter valve is closed, is forced out through the apertures 68. in thehousing 6) of the valve .into a chamber formed by the ring-shaped bracket 39.

The water is then forced up through the perforations in the lower.:end of the cartridge 32 up through the car- `tridgey and-out throughthe perforations at its Aupper end.

.The waternowfiows through the crystals in the-cartridge -32.to. be activated by the crystalsin the cartridge. The .activated water .then .passes down through the passageways .66, and out .the orifices 24in the bottom memberlS.

.The diverter valve 40 isheldpositioned coaxially with- .in the housing 60 by. means, for example, of Va screw S0 which is Vthreaded downthrough the top of the diverter `valvehousing 60 into a threaded boss 82 inthe diverter -tvalve 40. A spring washer .may be positioned bet-Ween the head of the screw tif) (FIGURE .1) and the top of .the valve housing 60. The-screw 80 permits the diverter ivalve tolbe turned from one angular position to another `Awithin the housing`60 toopen and close thevalve. An

upwardly extendingstop member 84 (FIGURE 3), which lextends through one of =the apertures 76 in the top of 'the'housing 60, limits such angular movement.

The diverter valve may be turned, therefore, to a first angularposition within the housing 60 in which paths Aare established .between'theinletapertures 70 and the outlet apertures 68,1and in `which the'orifices formed by theserrations 42 and 43 are closed; and it may be moved to a second angular position, in which the apertures 68 are closed and the orifices formed by the serrations t2 and '.43 are open. .In the second positionof the valve, `and as described, clear unscentedwater emerges from the unit, while for the first position of the valve scented and/ or bubble bath water emerges.

The invention provides, therefore, an improved and unique shower head. The shower head of the invention has a dual purpose. Namely, the head may be conveniently adjusted to a first operating condition in which a usual clear water shower is provided. However, the head of the invention may be set, in the described manner, to a second operating position, in which a scented or bubble shower is provided.

As also described, the shower head assembly of the invention is constructed to utilize perforated disposable cartridges of bath crystals. These cartridges may be conveniently replaced in the illustrated embodiment, merely by removing the bottom of the assembly, and inserting a .new cartridge into the described position in the housing.

I claim:

1. A shower head assembly including: a tubularshaped housing defining an inner chamber and having a centrally positioned inlet means at its upper end for rcceiving water under pressure, a disc-shaped bottom mem- "ber removably coupled to the `lower end of said tubular shaped housing, said bottom member having a first set of orifices [therein disposed in a circular path and said bottom member further having a central aperture therein, a diverter valve mounted in said central aperture and configured'to form a second set of orifices in said bottom member disposed in a circular path and concentrically positioned within vsaid first set of orifices, said diverter valve being rotatably adjustable between a first and a second vangular position `to open 'and close the orifices of the second set, supporting'means in said housing, an annular-shaped perforated cartridge of crystals positloned in said housing on said supporting means and having a central by-passing passage extending therethrough in axial alignment with said inlet means when said cartridge is so supported in said housing, said diverter valve serving to divert water up through the perforated cartridge and "down through said orifices of said first set when said vvalve is rotatably adjusted'to its second angular position `support the perforated cartridge.

4. A shower head assembly including: a tubular-shaped housing defining a chamber and having a centrally positioned inlet means at its upper face for receiving water underfpressure,'a discishaped bottom member removably coupled to the lower end of said tubular-shaped housing, said bottommember having a first set of orifices therein and said bottom member further having a central aperture therein, 'a diverter'valve'mounted in said central aperture 'and configured relative to the bore thereof to form a second set of orifices concentrically positioned within said first set, said diverter valve being rotatably adjustable between a firstand a second angular 'position to open and close the orifices of thesecond set, a valve housing for said diverter valve supported on the upper surface of said bottom member and having inlet means for passing the water under pressure from the inlet means of said tubular-shaped housing into 'said valve housing and out through'said second 'set of orifices when said diverter valve is in said first angular position, and said valve housing including outlet means for passing the water from theinterior of said valve housing back into said tubular shaped housing when said diverter valveis in said second angular position.

5. The assembly defined in claim 4 and in which-said central aperture in said bottom member includes a first plurality of serrations and said diverter valve includes a second plurality of serratons extending around a rim thereof, the serrations of said irst plurality and of said second plurality cooperating to form said second set of orifices.

`6. The assembly defined in claim 4 and which includes a ring-shaped supporting member mounted on the upper surface of said bottom member and surrounding said valve housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

